CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — On Friday, March 27, two students were killed and over 20 others injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus in Carroll County.
At approximately 2:41 p.m., a Clarksville-Montgomery County School System bus collided with a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck and a Chevrolet Trailblazer near Highway 70 and Cedar Grove, authorities said. The bus was en route to Jackson, Tennessee, for a field trip.
The deceased were identified as 14-year-old Zoe and 14-year-old Arianna, both 8th graders from Kenwood Middle School. More than 20 additional individuals, including students, were transported to local hospitals, with one survivor suffering multiple broken bones.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), there were 29 people on the bus, comprising 24 students and 5 staff members. Preliminary reports indicated that the bus veered into oncoming traffic before crashing into the dump truck, which subsequently caught fire.
THP is actively investigating the incident, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducting its own inquiry, focusing on driver performance and overall safety protocols for school transportation.
The school bus driver, identified as Sabrina R. Ducksworth, has had no prior disciplinary actions, according to a spokesperson for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. She reportedly had high blood pressure and was suspected to have suffered a stroke prior to the crash, although this has not been confirmed.
In the wake of the tragedy, state Senator Mark Pody is proposing legislation to enhance safety measures on school buses, including the installation of seatbelts and lane-keeping assist systems.
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System encouraged students to wear black and gold on Monday in honor of Zoe and Arianna. Counselors are available at Kenwood Middle School to support grieving students as the community mourns the loss.